Individual Details

Birth

Sir Nicholas Beck (Beke, Beck, Bec, or Beek) seems to have used invariably the name of Beck, a form which had occurred only occasionally before his time. He was a "Chivaler" and being also a member of Parliament, a good account of his career is given in Col. Wedgewood's "Parliamentary History".

He served in the famous Crecy campaign, and was probably in the great fight of the feudal lord, Ralph, Baron Stafford being attached to the King's division, and it is certain that he took part in the seige of Calais, because he had during its progress letters of attorney dated March 20, 1347, describing him as of the retinue of Ralph, who was abroad in the King's service. In 1359 he was again in the retinue of Ralph, now Earl of Stafford. In 1261, Prince Lionel of Clarence (son of Edward III) was appointed Lieutenant of Ireland and was accompanied thither by a body of men at arms commissioned by Ralph Stafford. Nicholas Beck was a knight with him.

Nicholas Beck's grandfather, Robert Bek, took the name of Bek from his mother, Lettice de Bek, who married Sir Richard Draycote. Lettice was not only the heiress of the de Beks, but also of Orabel or Orabilla, her mother. In 1369 Nicholas recovered 6 messuages, and 6 bovates, not in the estates entailed in 1302. With Nicholas probably ended the male line of the Becks, who were in fact Draycotes. We learn from a suit at Stafford in 1402 that his mother's name was Mary or Mariota de Bek and that he himself married a wife named Joan, and they were both living in 1348. He left two daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret.